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Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Girls empowering girls, one mental health conversation at a time.

The Hot Chocolate Circle is centred on creating a safe and supportive environment for girls to navigate their mental health journeys. We understand that mental health challenges can be overwhelming and isolating, and often girls may feel hesitant to seek support. We aim to break down these barriers which is why we have developed a unique approach to supporting girls. By sitting in a circle and sipping hot chocolate, we create a comfortable and safe space for girls to share their experiences, support one another, gain insights and develop practical evidence-based coping strategies to manage their mental health challenges effectively. We aim to build a community of girls who feel empowered to navigate their mental health journeys and equipped with the tools and resources to lead fulfilling lives.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Our Objectives

  • Create a safe and supportive space for girls to share their experiences and support one another.
  • Increase understanding and awareness of mental health challenges among young girls and reduce any shame associated around it.
  • Equip girls with evidence-based coping strategies and tools to manage their mental health challenges.
  • Foster a sense of community among young girls, promoting healthy friendships and fostering resilience.

Our Programs

  • Our programs consist of 8 weekly sessions, each lasting 60 minutes.
  • There is a maximum of 6 girls in each session.
  • Our programs, designed for girls aged 8 to 17, are grouped into smaller age ranges for peer alignment.
  • Our programs have been carefully developed and are led by a team of mental health professionals.
  • Our programs employ evidence-based strategies rooted in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Positive Psychology.
  • Each session is thoughtfully organised around a central theme, offering a blend of interactive and creative activities, discussions, reflections, and so much more!
Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Meet Some of Your Facilitators

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Carmen Nielsen

Lead Hot Chocolate Circle Facilitator
(MProfPsych; BPsychSc(Hons) and Trained Facilitator)

Carmen is dedicated to empowering young girls and guiding them towards reclaiming control over their mental well-being. With her master’s in psychology and extensive experience working with young people, she strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young girls, providing them with the necessary tools to navigate their mental health journeys. Carmen recognises the unique challenges faced by young girls in today’s world.

Her mission is to foster an environment where girls can openly discuss their mental well-being, free from judgement or fear. Carmen’s soft and calm demeanour instantly puts girls at ease, cultivating a space where they feel comfortable, safe, and empowered to share their thoughts and experiences. Through the Hot Chocolate Circle Program, she skilfully integrates effective techniques, strategies, and tools, equipping girls with the necessary skills to nurture and safeguard their mental well-being. Carmen inspires them to embrace their true potential and embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Tanika Slack

(Trained Strengths-based Mentor and Trained Facilitator)

Tanika radiates energy, creativity, and kindness, serving as a guiding light for girls in their journey towards self-empowerment and fulfillment. With an unwavering belief in the inherent beauty of every individual, she possesses a remarkable ability to uplift and inspire.

As a strengths-based mentor, Tanika is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of young girls, guiding them towards a path of personal growth. Her vibrant personality allows her to effortlessly connect with the girls, establishing strong and meaningful relationships built on trust and understanding. Infusing each session with her creative touch, Tanika transforms learning into an enjoyable and engaging experience. Her sessions are filled with excitement and imaginative activities that foster a sense of joy. With her compassionate nature and unwavering dedication, she consistently brings smiles to the faces of those she interacts with.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Abbey Doran

(BPsychSc(Hons) and Trained Facilitator)

Abbey holds an Honours degree in Psychology and is deeply passionate about supporting young people with their mental health and wellbeing. She is especially committed to empowering young girls as they navigate the many pressures of today’s world! With her warm, approachable, and non-judgemental presence, Abbey aims to create a space where every girl feels safe, heard, and valued. She strives to empower young people to understand and embrace their authentic self, whilst learning practical skills to care for their mind and body in a fun and relatable way. Abbey believes that genuine relationships are the foundation of wellbeing, and her mission is to help girls not only strengthen their confidence and resilience, but also lean on and uplift each other!

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Sasha Nielsen

(Trained Facilitator)

I’m deeply passionate about supporting teenage girls in discovering who they are, staying true to themselves and prioritising their mental and physical wellbeing from a young age.  My personal journey through injury, health challenges and identity struggles have shaped my commitment to helping young women build self-awareness, set boundaries and embrace their uniqueness with confidence so they can thrive in their own skin. I have a background in high-performance sports science, health coaching and working within a disability support work company. Alongside that, I’ve developed personal practices for stress-management and hormone balancing like yoga and breathwork through my own self-development and health journey. I aim to guide girls in managing stress, maintaining balance and building resilience early on.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Chloe King

(BPsychSc(Hons) and Trained Facilitator)

Chloe has a genuine passion for supporting the mental health and well-being of young people. Through her lived experience and Honours degree in Psychology, she understands what young girls can encounter in today’s world and the impact this can have. Knowing this, she strives to build up the next generation of young women by equipping them with the skills to help them flourish. She is particularly passionate about fostering positive self-talk and self-compassion to diminish one’s inner critic and combat unrealistic societal standards. Chloe’s warm and empathetic nature cultivates a safe space for every person to feel understood, accepted and supported. She also has a massive sweet tooth and knows how to make the perfect hot chocolate, which always helps! Ultimately, she hopes that she can help make the lives of young girls better by facilitating somewhere that they feel able to share, discover and grow. 

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Tamara Browne

(Certificate IV and Diploma in Youth Work and Trained Facilitator)

I’m passionate about helping girls feel confident, valued, and proud of who they are. Every girl deserves to know her worth and feel supported in becoming the best version of herself. With a Certificate IV and Diploma in Youth Work, I’ve worked closely with young people in a range of settings, and I’ve seen how important it is for girls to have a safe space to focus on their mental wellbeing and personal growth.

I’m here to create a safe, supportive space where girls can learn to care for themselves and feel good inside and out. My goal is to help girls build self-awareness, resilience, and healthy habits that support their wellbeing. I believe every girl deserves to feel loved, valued, and confident in becoming the best version of herself. I’m committed to guiding girls as they manage stress, set healthy boundaries, and embrace their unique strengths. Above all, I want every girl to know she’s never alone and that she’s capable of amazing things.

It’s a privilege to be part of their journey and help them grow and thrive into strong, confident young women.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Grace Gatfield

(Trained Facilitator)

I’m Grace — a girl who loves encouraging others and being someone others can lean on. I’m especially passionate about supporting girls and helping them feel confident, seen, and never alone in what they’re going through.

As someone who’s just graduated high school, I know firsthand how tough it can be to figure out who you are, stay true to yourself, and navigate the pressure that comes with growing up. That’s why I care so deeply about creating space for girls to feel safe, supported, and celebrated just as they are.

Through my own journey with self-worth, identity, and mental health, I’ve learned how powerful it is to have someone cheering you on. My hope is to be that person for others — reminding girls they are enough, just as they are, and encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness with confidence and kindness.

Hot Chocolate Circle Program

Rose Horder

(BSocSc Psych, BCou and Trained Facilitator)

.Rose is passionate about supporting young women and empowering them to become their own unapologetic and authentic selves. Through completing the dual degree of psychology and counselling, Rose has been able to grow her understanding of mental health and learn practical skills to assist others with overcoming daily challenges and adopting healthy and positive coping mechanisms.

Her mission is to teach girls the importance of prioritising their mental health and reminding them of how important they are. Rose strives to use her compassionate and non-judgemental nature to provide a safe and inviting space for young women to come as they are and learn to thrive on their journey towards self-love and acceptance.

Reviews

I loved the talking about stress and everything to do with our health and well-being. It really changed me and helped me. I loved just also getting to have girl time and talk while having hot chocolate and snacks. It really made me a better person because I learned new things about stress and how to cope with it and difficult situations. Please do it again next year.
Year 8 StudentCoolum Beach Christian College
I loved the Hot Chocolate Circle! It’s such a unique experience, and I am so grateful. I would absolutely love to do it again next year. I love the two beautiful ladies who ran it. If they ever read this, thank you so much for the patience and kindness you showed us every Thursday. The stress segment was so helpful in my daily life. I love Carmen and Tanika, and I would love to see them again.
Year 8 StudentCoolum Beach Christian College
My daughter week after week looks forward to the weekly sessions and is taking in the strategies that are being taught. She has also become more positive, her stress levels are lower, she is a lot less reactive in stressful situations and she is looking after herself a lot better too. I can’t thank the team enough for this positive impact on my daughter and going forward how this is going to benefit her every day throughout her life .
JennyThankful parent
HCC is 10/10. My daughter is enjoying it and it’s helping her to cope with stress.
TISHThankful parent
We have been very impressed by the professionalism of the Hot Chocolate Circle team, the quality of the content taught to the teenage girls and the genuine investment being made by Carmen and her team. We commend their work and would love to see it continued so more young people struggling with anxious thoughts/stress are able to learn simple, yet life changing strategies at such an early age.
Daniel and Elise PappasSenior Pastors at Meridan Community Church and Centre
I would highly recommend this program to other parents. Having a space that is fun, inviting and most importantly safe has been a huge draw card for my anxious and shy teen. She felt like she could be herself and could hang out with other teens whilst receiving the support she needed. Her mood has improved significantly since attending the Hot Chocolate Circle.
ElizabethThankful parent
My daughter has been attending the Hot Chocolate Circle for the past few months. Not only has she enjoyed participating with the other girls but actually looks forward to it every week. It's clear that the program is doing great things for her mental health. She always feels welcomed and safe, allowing her to discuss sometimes uncomfortable subjects comfortably. It is definitely something we would continue to participate in if possible in the future.
RomyThankful Parent
Thank you so much for everything you have done for my girl. She has loved every minute of HCC and I know she can’t wait to be involved with future programs. This past two weeks I have noticed a real shift in her attitude at home. She has been speaking to me with more respect and in situations when she would normally explode out of frustration or anxiety, she has remained calm — not every time — but enough times that I can see she is really trying to put into practice what she has been learning. Thanks again Carmen and Tanika, I’m so grateful that you have both chosen to bless us in this way.
KatriceThankful Parent
Thank you so much for everything you have done for me! I had so much fun. You're amazing at your job and a life saver! Your book is awesome and a life saver too.
Chelsey

For more information, please email miind@strengthpotential.com.au or enquire below. 

Program Highlights

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  • miind@strengthpotential.com.au
  • 4/70 Buderim Pines Drive, Buderim QLD 4556

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